Review: R&G Hexagonal Exhaust Protector

Dropping your motorcycle is a very unpleasant experience, be it a minor stationary drop or a crash. If your motorcycle lands on the side with the exhaust, you can be sure that the repair bill would be substantially higher. Especially if you ride on the track, lowsides are very common, and anything that can minimize damage to your exhaust should be on your consideration list.

There are quite a few reputable brands out there that manufacture exhaust protectors, one of the more popular brands being R&G. Being someone who wants only the best for his bike, I got myself a R&G Hexgonal Exhaust Protector.

The Exhaust Protector
There are a variety of shapes of exhaust protectors from the R&G exhaust protector product family. I bought the hexagonal exhaust protector specifically for my Akrapovic hexagonal exhaust end-can.

The R&G Hexgonal Exhaust Protector is one of the better looking exhaust protectors I've come across, and according to unfortunate track riders who have crash tested the product, they have feedback that it holds up pretty well in a crash. But like all motorcycle protection parts, it is not guaranteed to protect against all crashes. Every crash is different, but the exhaust protector should be able to protect your exhaust end-can against all but the most violent of crashes.

Packaging & Installation
It came in a small box, together with the installation guide. Installation was pretty straightforward, no special tools were required. Just follow the instructions carefully and you would be fine.

Price
The R&G Hexagonal Exhaust Protector retails at SGD$78, which is a little on the high side. But if you think about it, it's cheap insurance for your exhaust end-can.

Verdict
You can probably get cheaper non-branded exhaust protectors for a fraction of the price of the R&G. As far as rider reviews go, there is no significant advantage from the R&G exhaust protector over cheap rubber alternatives. Perhaps, it can withstand a more violent crash but that is a scenario that is difficult to simulate.

Because brands have a reputation to upkeep, it would be silly to release an inferior product to the mass market without proper research and development. I would recommend that you spend that little more money to get a R&G exhaust protector for peace of mind.

RB Rating: 7 / 10

Ride safe.

Riders for Life #3

The third episode of the "Riders for Life" series includes footage from the recent Singapore Ride Safe 2013 event.

Ride safe.

Sudden RPM Drop on Downshift

Something weird happened to my R6 on the track recently. Upon downshifting from third to second, while braking, the revs dropped suddenly, and forced me to ride into the gravel trap. I'm still not sure what could have been the cause, but the bike has been running perfectly fine ever since.

Ride safe.

Review: LighTech Rear Sets FTRYA002

In order to tailor your motorcycle controls to your body, the first upgrade you need to buy should be a good set of aftermarket rear sets. I was torn between the LighTech and Vortex rear sets. Vortex make really good rear sets, and are very popular among a lot of track junkies. Vortex pegs have a very aggressive design to give maximum grip,  preventing slippage which can be potentially dangerous especially while leaned over. But that was also one of the reasons I chose the LighTech instead, Vortex pegs tend to 'eat' into your rubber soles, and I did not want to destroy the soles of the leather dress shoes I wear to work.

The Rear Sets
For my 2011 Yamaha R6, I got the FTRYA002. You may want to check LighTech's website to find out which model suits your bike.

Inside the packaging, you'll find the rear sets, the necessary nuts and bolts, and the installation manual. The installation is pretty straightforward, but I would recommend that you let an experienced mechanic do the job if you're not confident.

Adjustability
The pegs can be configured to 1 of the 8 possible positions, 2 levels for height, and 4 positions for forward and backward adjustability.

I stand at 1.77m  tall or about 5"10, and I wouldn't recommend the LighTech if you're a lot shorter than I am because you would probably need 1 more level of height adjustability. The peg position seen in the photos above is comfortable for me for track riding, and works for street riding too with just a bit of discomfort. This is how I remind myself that the R6 is meant for the track, not the streets. Or maybe I'm just too lazy to keep switching the peg positions.

Grip
The grip is excellent. I have been riding with the LighTech rear sets for about 3 months now, and have been to the race track twice. No slippage, not even in heavy rain with my leather dress shoes. What can be better? The soles of my shoes still look the same, no signs of wear and tear caused by the pegs.

Features
The gear shifter on my R6 has been configured for GP shift, or reverse shift. LighTech states this as a feature in their specifications, but to me, it's just simply flipping the pivot of the shifter rod around.

Zoom in on the top left part of the photo below to locate the metallic pivot of the shifter rod, which is pointing to the right, or rear of the bike. For regular shifting, the pivot should be pointing to the left, or front of the bike.

Unfortunately, the shifter rod when configured for GP shift, would rub against the stock R6 plastics. I had to cut a small section to make space for the shifter rod. See photo below to understand what I mean.

Price
The rear sets were SGD$660. I ride the bike on the streets too, so add in an additional SGD$70 for the rear brake light switch, which brings the total amount to $730. I must admit it's not a cheap investment but it is the one of the best upgrades I have made to my R6. Good control ergonomics prevents you from tiring out too quickly, and that translate to more confidence because you feel at ease on the bike.

Verdict
LightTech rear sets are one of the best rear sets that money can buy, they are used in some of the best teams (Tech 3 Yamaha) in MotoGP, SBK, and by many other pro-level race teams. There is no doubt that LighTech makes quality rear sets.

The only gripe I have about them are the lack of 1 more level of height adjustability. Other than that, they are pretty much perfect.

One more thing that I like about LighTech rear sets is that the parts can be bought separately. In the event of a crash, you would just need to replace the damaged part and not the whole rear set.

Also, check out a video of the rear sets in action.

The LighTech rear sets deserve a good rating.

RB Rating: 8 / 10

Ride safe.

Riders for Life #2

The second installment of the "Riders for Life" series. Includes footages of the recently reviewed Dainese gear, and my first track session after the major highside injury.

Ride safe.